World

Artist paints Israel's air-raid shelters to make them 'sympathetic-looking'

Artist Eliasaf Myara paints murals on the sides of concrete air-raid shelters along the Israeli border with Gaza.

At the start of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, Israel's Defense Ministry built hundreds of small protective shelters in towns near the Gaza Strip. One year later, a local council commissioned Myara to make them less of an eyesore for area residents. The muralist said he was asked to paint dozens of shelters in a way that is "natural and sympathetic-looking."

A United Nations report published in June said the 2014 conflict experienced a large increase in firepower, with Israel having carried out more than 6,000 airstrikes, and firing 50,000 tank and artillery shells. Meanwhile, Palestinian armed groups fired nearly 5,000 rockets and 1,800 mortars, according to the report.

More than 2,200 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians, died during the 50-day war, according to U.N. and Palestinian officials, and 73 people, including six civilians, were killed on the Israeli side.

Additional reporting by the European Pressphoto Agency and The Associated Press

Painted Shelters

Israeli artist Eliasaf Myara paints a mural on a concrete shelter in the village of Ma'agalim.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

A young Israeli plays next to a shelter at a school in the town of Gan Yavne near the southern city of Ashdod, Israel.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

An Israeli soldier walks next to a painted concrete protective shelter surrounding the kindergarten in the Kibbutz Nahal Oz, located a few kilometers from the border with the Gaza Strip.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

An Israeli man walks past a shelter in the village of Sharsheret.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

An Israeli man walks past a protective shelter in the village of Shokeda.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

Young Israelis play next to a concrete protective shelter painted by Israeli artist Eliasaf Myara at a school in the town Gan Yavne near the southern city of Ashdod, Israel.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

An Israeli man rides his bicycle past a protective shelter in the village of Zimrat.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

An Israeli girl places tables next to a painted shelter in the city of Sderot.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

Israeli artist Eliasaf Myara paints a mural on a protective shelter in the Kibbutz Sa'ad, located a few kilometers from the border with the Gaza Strip, Israel.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

An Israeli helps his son to ride a bicycle next to a concrete protective shelter painted by Israeli artist Eliasaf Myara in the village of Shokeda.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

A concrete protective shelter is painted by Israeli artist Eliasaf Myara in the village of Shokeda.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

An Israeli girl passes a concrete shelter in the city of Sderot.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

Israeli artist Eliasaf Myara paints a mural on a shelter in the village of Shokeda.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

Israeli children sit next to a shelter in the village of Kfar Maimon.

Image: ABIR SULTAN/EPA

An Israeli women waits for a bus next to a painted concrete protective shelter in the village of Kfar Maimon.

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